Evwind, Other renewables

1.022 GW of photovoltaics was installed in France in 2012

This figure corresponds to a 66.7% increase in solar power output compared to 2011.

According to the 2012 French Electricity Report published last week by France’s transmission system operator Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE), photovoltaic systems generated 4 TWh last year.

In comparison with other types of energy, says the report, solar accounted for 0.79% of France’s electricity demand in 2012.

It adds that cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity in the country has now reached 3.5 GW, of which 1.022 GW were installed last year.

Overall, the share of renewable energy in France’s energy mix increased to 16.4%, which says RTE, is the highest value recorded for 5 years. Meanwhile, nuclear generation was said to be down by 3.8% compared with 2011. However, it still accounts for 74.8% of total energy generation.

French president Francois Hollande declared last autumn his aim to reduce the weight of nuclear power from 75 to 50% of the national electricity output by 2025. A part of this reduction will see the implementation of a new national solar strategy in the coming months. Earlier this January, the French government also unveiled new measures, which introduced a doubling of the annual 500 MW installation target to a minimum of 1 GW in 2013.